Curatorial Statement:
Writers have a particular perspective when it comes to creatively responding to a theme, and a unique approach to showcasing their work in a gallery setting. This is why I was excited to work with Professor Paige Kiehl and her class, English 102: Composition and Rhetoric II, to develop this exhibition.
I shared a theme, or writing prompt, for this project, originally envisioned by Anna Pontius, Preparator and Collections Manager. The prompt is environment: environmental issues; climate change; and how we fit into the environment around us.
As Professor Paige Kiehl, Anna Pontius, and I were discussing the visual display of text-based work, I began thinking about other examples of creatively displayed writing. And I thought of zines. Zines are independent publications, often created by subculture groups, radical collectives, independent organizations, activists, alternative artists, writers, thinkers, poets, musicians, etc. Actually, anyone can make a zine! The idea behind zines is that they are accessible to anyone who wants to read them, print them, share them, or create their own. For this exhibition, as student-writers responded to the theme of "environment", I asked them to think on the aesthetics of zines: experimental text layouts and creative displays of text + image together. This show was truly a collaboration with the writers exhibited here, Professor Kiehl, Anna, and me.
The pieces in this exhibition are powerful commentaries on the state of the world around us from the following talented writers:
Jacqueline Almader, Miguel Andrade, Alexis Gonzalez, Nataly Angel, Natalia Arce-Woods, Nelson Barrientos, Victor Meza-Hernandez, Rajveer Chahal, Katherine Chungata, Emily Coronado, Liliana Diaz, Fiorenza McDonogh Mooney, Indira Vincenty, Diana Fernandes, Annie Qin, Zell Wilson, Keon Hetherington, Melanie Jimenez, Betzaida Najera, Gabe Perrusquia, Patricia Soto, Ashley Vaquero
-Anneli Goeller, Curator
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